Govt under fire for Pathologist cutbacks

The Government has come under fire in the Dáil over the withdrawal of the State Pathologist's garda driver due to cutbacks.

Dr Marie Cassidy has expressed concern she may be more to prone to mistakes following the move because she will have to drive herself long distances to attend murder scenes.

Opposition politicians slammed the cutback in the Dáil today, but Finance Minister Brian Cowen said it was a matter for garda management and had nothing to do with the Government.

Despite this, Fine Gael TD Jim O’Keefe said he would hold Justice Minister Michael McDowell personally responsible if the decision compromised a criminal case.

"Valuable evidence was lost in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case because of a delay in getting the State Pathologist to the scene of the murder. I want that situation never to arise again," he said.